Lectionary - Ordinary 30 Year C
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Joel 2:23-32 I will pour out my spirit on all flesh
Psalm 65 You crown the year with your bounty
2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18 My life is already being poured out on the alter
Luke 18:9-14 The Pharisee and the tax-collector
Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)
lesson | Hymns for Sunday 30, Yr.C | TIS | AHB | SA |
E | A mighty fortress is our God | 103 | [8[ | |
E | Abide with me, fast falls the eventide | 586 | 502 | |
G | All creatures of our God and King | 100 | 3 | |
G | All go to God when they are sorely placed | 240 | [182] | |
G | All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine | 180 | ||
G | Amazing grace (how sweet the sound) | 129 | 56 | |
E/G | And can it be that I should gain | 209 | 138 | |
G | Be thou my vision | 547 | 455 | |
O/G | Breathe on me, breath of God | 407 | 320 | |
E | Christ the Lord is risen today | 370 | 290 | |
Ps | Come children, join to sing | 162 | ||
G | Come down, O Love divine | 398 | 310 | |
O | Come Holy Spirit, our souls inspire | 396 | 308 | |
G | Father of heaven, whose love profound | 131 | 60 | |
O | Fear not, rejoice and be glad | 36 | ||
E | Fight the good fight with all thy might | 594 | 511 | |
E/G | For all the saints | 455 | 384 | |
G | Great is your faithfulness | 154 | ||
E | Guide me, O thou great Redeemer | 569 | 478 | |
Here in this place, new light is streaming | 474 | |||
G | How can a sinner know | 482 | ||
E | How firm a foundation, you people of God | 578 | 491 | |
Ps | How lovely is your dwelling place | 44 | 347 | |
G | I will sing the wondrous story | 233 | 173 | |
G | Jesus lover of my soul | 211 | 139 | |
G | Jesus priceless treasure | 463 | ||
G | Just as I am without one plea | 584 | 497 | |
G | King of glory, King of peace | 201 | 129 | |
G | Lord Jesus think on me | 546 | 122 | |
E | March on, my soul, with strength | 533 | ||
O | O Breath of life, come sweeping through us | 409 | 322 | |
G | O day of God, draw near | 616 | 547 | |
O | O for a heart to praise my God | 568 | 476 | |
O God of Bethel, by whose hand | 564 | 49 | ||
E | O Love that wilt not let me go | 602 | 525 | |
O | O Spirit of the living God | 405 | 318 | |
G | O thou who camest from above | 572 | 486 | |
G | One who is all unfit to count | 174 | ||
G | Praise my soul, the King of heaven | 134 | 68 | |
Ps | Praise waits for you in Zion, Lord | 35 | ||
G | Rock of Ages, cleft for me | 222 | 157 | |
Ps | Sing praise to God who reigns above | 110 | 27 | |
E | Stand up, stand up for Jesus | 592 | 509 | |
G | Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord | 161 | 109 | |
G | There's a wideness in God's mercy | 136 | [72] | |
G | To the name of our salvation | 127 | ||
O | Veni, sancte Spiritus | 752 | ||
We sing the praise of him who died | 347 | 262 | ||
E/G | What a friend we have in Jesus | 590 | 165 | |
E | What shall I do my God to love | 122 | 50 | |
E | Who would true valour see | 561 | 467 | |
G | Your coming Lord, to earth in Bethlehem | 285 | 98 | |
Yours be the glory, risen, conquering Son | 380 | [303] |
Other Possible Hymns
(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia. TIS = Together in Song)
30 (TIS 112) Through all the changing scenes of life
44 (TIS 90) I'll praise my maker while I've breath
47 (TIS 121) God himself is present
72 (TIS 136) Souls of men, why do you scatter [..from a love so true and deep]
531 When we walk with the Lord/ in the light of his word
537 (TIS 609) May the mind of Christ my Saviour
Sermon summary (Click here for complete sermon)
The Pharisee thanked God he was not like the other man; the tax collected prayed, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' (Luke 18:11-13). Where are you in this little scene? Do you stand with one of them? We know that we have much in common with the tax collector. Yet there is a problem for us in that. The parable was not addressed to people who were conscious of their unworthiness before God. (Luke 18:9).
We know that Jesus made friends with 'tax collectors and sinners'.. If you identify easily with the tax collector, beware, you may be in mortal danger. Did you can catch yourself as you began to think, "Thank God, I am not like that self righteous hypocritical Pharisee"? It is a subtle trap that is both personal and political.
The political trap is subtle and powerful for people with a strong sense of social justice who identify easily with the poor and those who are despised. Jesus challenged an exclusive attitude on many occasions (for example: Luke 17:16; Matthew 8:10; Luke 7:9; Mark 7:26-29). The political trap is that we can make a virtue out of taking the side of the outsiders, especially when we do so in condemnation of others.
The tax collector in the story did not condemn the Pharisee. He seems not even to have been aware of him.
Both of them represent aspects of devotion to God that were well known amongst the Jews (Psalms 26:1; Psalms 26:4-6; Psalms 51:1-4). Jesus even said that people should listen to what the Pharisees and the scribes taught (Matthew 23:1). He came back to what was in their hearts (Matthew 15:7-8; Luke 16:13-15), as in Proverbs 21:2 and 28:13. So the emphasis is on praying in secret (Matthew 6:5-6; 23:27-28). There are many different ways in which we can fall into the trap of self-righteousness. They all involve us in deception about what is in our hearts.
You can be free even of the self-justifying trap through faith in God, for then you do not need to see yourself as being on the right side or as having the best of motives.
Order of Service - Pentecost 23 (Ordinary 30) Year C The Gathering of the People of God
CALL TO WORSHIP Hear the call of God to the People of God:
O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God;
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see
visions. (Joel 2:1,27-28)
HYMN God himself is present AB 47 TIS 121
PRAYER OF ADORATION
CONFESSION
Loving God, Lord of the Church, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed: we have
not loved you with all our heart or served you with all our strength; we have been blind to the vision of a renewed
world and deaf to your call to costly discipleship; we have been indifferent to the suffering of others and unwilling to
forgive one another. In your mercy, Lord, pardon and restore us, that together in the ministry of Christ we may
serve you with joy all the days of our life. Amen.
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
{39} nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus
our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Hear then Christ's word of grace, 'Your sins are forgiven'
Thanks be to God
DOXOLOGY
Praise is due to you, O God
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. (Psalms 65:1,4,5)
WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER
The peace of the Lord be always with you.And also with you.
Service of the Word
INTRODUCTION OF THEME: Self-righteousness and the goodness of God.
OLD TESTAMENT Joel 2:23-32 I will pour out my spirit on all flesh
PSALM 65 You crown the year with your bounty
EPISTLE 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18 My life is already being poured out on the alter
GOSPEL Luke 18:9-14 The pharisee and the tax collector
HYMN May the mind of Christ my Saviour TIS 609 AHB 537
SERMON
HYMN One who is all unfit to count AHB174
OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Father, we pray for the holy catholic Church;
that we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the church
may truly and humbly serve you;
that your name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all ministers of the gospel;
that they may faithfully proclaim your Word
and administer your holy sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority
in the nations of the world;
that there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
that our works may find favour in your sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer
from any grief or trouble;
that they may be delivered from their distress
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
may we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our community
for the life and worship of this congregation
and for those whose needs are known to us.....
Let us pray for ourselves.....
COLLECT FOR THE DAY
Lord God of justice, you know no favourites and show no partiality; but you have given us assurance that the prayers of the
lowly pierce the clouds, their petitions reach the heavens. Look upon us who come before you as did the penitent tax
collector, and grant that we may open ourselves with confidence in your mercy, and be justified by your grace. We ask this
through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
The Sending Forth of the People of God
HYMN 531 When we walk with the Lord/ in the light of his word
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.
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